WEB DESK: Elvis Presley fans and tribute performers began their annual pilgrimage to the Elvis Festival in the regional Australian town of Parkes on Wednesday.
Dressed in signature Elvis-inspired outfits, the spirited crowd gathered at Sydney’s Central Station before embarking on the 357-kilometer (222-mile) westward trip aboard the Elvis Express, a specially arranged train for the event.
The seven-hour journey is packed with nonstop Elvis-themed entertainment, featuring tribute artists delivering some of the King’s most iconic hits.
After months of anticipation, Louis Brown, an Elvis tribute artist who traveled from the UK, shared his excitement: “For the past two years, I’ve heard amazing things about this festival. This year, I made it a priority to attend, and just one day in, I’m already glad I made the journey.”
The Parkes Elvis Festival, traditionally held in the second week of January each year, is expected to draw approximately 24,000 attendees—twice the population of the small town.
